Organised Crime Branch seize drugs and cash Northern Ireland and England
14 Feb 2010
Police have seized over £1m worth of drugs, made nine arrests and uncovered £100,000 in cash during an intelligence led operation in Northern Ireland and England on Saturday, 13 February.
Detectives from the PSNI's Organised Crime Branch stopped and searched a lorry in Kilkeel and uncovered 6 kilos of cocaine, 22 kilos of speed and 20 kilos of herbal cannabis.
In follow up searches in Greater Belfast, 6 kilos of speed was seized along with £100,000 cash in sterling and euro notes.
As part of the same PSNI led operation, which involved the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) Greater Manchester Police and Lancashire Police, a house in Preston was searched and 20 kilos of speed was recovered.
A total of eight searches were carried out in Northern Ireland and five in England. Five men were arrested in Northern Ireland while three men and one woman were arrested in England. The three men are being brought to Northern Ireland for questioning.
The PSNI officer in charge of the Operation, Detective Superintendent Essie Adair said, "This has been a successful overt stage of a long term proactive investigation involving the PSNI and partner agencies against an organised crime gang which we believe was importing drugs into Northern Ireland. We have taken drugs and cash out of circulation and as a consequence have removed serious harm from our streets."
